Phil SumblerEarlier on today there was a tweet from the sports editor at the MK CItizen who said there had been no bids for either Matt O’Riley or Andy Fisher despite clear interest in them both from the Swans and, in the case of O’Riley, other clubs as well.
The question that needs to be asked is whether the reports are correct and whether there have been no bids or whether the club is taking a well trodden line in a transfer window and wanting people to believe that this is the case.
But why would they do that?ย ย Simply put it is a trick used to try and up the price that they can get for players in a window where traditionally maybe more “panic” buying is done than maybe the summer window.ย By putting out a story that there has been no bids, especially when there have been reports already to the contrary, then they are giving others that maybe interested the belief that there could be a deal for them to be done.ย ย This in turn can have the impact of increasing the value of the player as it leaves two clubs potentially vying for the services.
It is a similar trick to one generated by football agents who often ensure stories hit the press about potential interest in players when there in reality is none (remember the number of times we were “braced” for bids for Ashley Williams?)ย ย By “creating” interest in players then you generate natural interest at times and this again is another trick of a transfer window.
It does feel like one of those occasions where a Tweet by a reputable journalist has been a little manufactured by a selling club who is probably resigned to losing at least two or three of its star players in this window.ย ย Feed a piece of information and let the world of social media and outlets do the work for you.
It will suit MK Dons now to have everyone thinking there are no bids.ย ย It will make it easier for them on any incoming transfer deals (the clubs they want to deal with will not be aware of any “big” money sales) whilst it doesn’t unsettle anyone else in their squad at this moment in time.ย To the Swans it will have little impact at the moment and – given the widespread speculation – it doesn’t seem possible that there has not been any contact between the two clubs.
This could, of course, be the first step in pushing the Swans to increase offers.ย ย There is every possibility that in the next few days increased “interest” may be coming in these players which could force our hand but this is where the skills of Winter and Silverstein come in as they need to hold firm on their own valuations of players rather than get dragged into any transfer window games no matter where they are manufactured from.
Of course there is the chance that the earlier reports of “no interest” are true but right now it seems unlikely.
Maybe…!
